Wang Yi Meets ASEAN Chief as Ayungin Clash Strains Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Manila on July 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, as both sides sought to reaffirm their partnership against the backdrop of a fresh maritime clash at Ayungin Shoal that has sharply raised tensions in the region.

Meeting Amid Rising Tensions

The meeting came just days after an incident at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the South China Sea, where the Philippines claims a Filipino sailor was injured by a China Coast Guard member wielding a baton. China has accused Philippine forces of provocation, setting a confrontational tone for the diplomatic gatherings in Manila.

According to the PRC Mission to the UN, Wang Yi told Kao Kim Hourn that “the South China Sea should not become an obstacle to China-ASEAN relations,” while accusing “some forces within the Philippine military and police” of deliberately creating incidents at sea to serve the interests of external forces.

Milestones and Achievements

Wang noted that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), to which China was the first major power to accede in 2003. The year also marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), established in 2021.

Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the depth of the relationship, noting that China and ASEAN have established 65 cooperation mechanisms and that bilateral trade surpassed $1 trillion in 2025, as reported by the Chinese government. He described China as ASEAN’s “most important comprehensive strategic partner” and emphasized that the two sides are “inseparable neighbors.”

The Ayungin Shoal Incident

The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened friction. The Philippines maintains a military presence at Ayungin Shoal via the deliberately grounded BRP Sierra Madre, a former US Navy ship, since 1999. The July 2026 clash — involving China Coast Guard personnel and Filipino sailors — occurred just before the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, significantly escalating diplomatic tensions.

According to CGTN, Wang Yi said that regional countries “should remain highly vigilant about Philippine provocations over the South China Sea issue” and called for eliminating “interfering factors” in China-ASEAN relations.

COC Negotiations and the Dual-Track Approach

Both sides agreed to accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea — negotiations that have been ongoing since 2013 but have yet to produce a binding agreement. Kao Kim Hourn expressed ASEAN’s support for the “dual-track approach,” which addresses disputes between parties directly while maintaining regional peace through multilateral mechanisms.

As reported by the ASEAN Secretariat, the Post-Ministerial Conference with China reviewed progress under the ASEAN-China CSP and discussed its future direction, with both sides reaffirming commitment to the ASEAN-China Plan of Action (2026–2030).

Broader Diplomatic Push

On the same day, Wang Yi also held separate meetings with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, signaling a broad diplomatic engagement as major powers compete for influence in Southeast Asia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to meet Wang Yi in Manila on July 22, with the Ayungin Shoal clash expected to be a key topic. The US has condemned China’s actions, with State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott calling it a “troubling pattern of provocation,” as reported by PhilStar.

AI Cooperation and the Global South

Wang Yi also highlighted China’s establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) at the Shanghai World AI Conference, inviting ASEAN countries to join. He framed the initiative as part of China’s commitment to supporting the Global South, stating that the organization aims to “boost AI capacity-building for Global South countries, enabling them to ride the wave of the times.”

Looking Ahead

The competing narratives on display in Manila — China offering cooperation and stability while firmly blaming the Philippines for provocations, versus the US condemning Chinese aggression — underscore the strategic competition for influence in Southeast Asia. The scheduled Wang Yi-Rubio meeting and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China on July 22 will be closely watched for signs of de-escalation or further friction.

With the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea approaching in 2027, and COC negotiations still incomplete, the path forward remains uncertain. The Ayungin Shoal incident may strengthen the Philippines’ resolve to deepen security ties with the US, potentially complicating China’s efforts to keep the South China Sea issue from dividing ASEAN.